Team USA Olympic Stars Hit Late-Night TV After Milan Triumphs

Hockey gold medalists Hilary Knight, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes to appear on 'The Tonight Show' and 'SNL'.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Fresh off winning hockey gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, U.S. Olympian hockey stars Hilary Knight, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes will make appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "Saturday Night Live" this week to celebrate their victories.

Why it matters

The high-profile late-night TV appearances showcase the growing popularity and mainstream recognition of the U.S. Olympic hockey teams, especially after their dramatic gold-medal wins against rival Canada. It also highlights how Olympians are leveraging their newfound fame to promote their personal brands and the sport of hockey.

The details

Knight, a forward and captain for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women's Hockey League, helped the U.S. women's team to a 2-1 overtime win against Canada to win gold in Milan on Feb. 19. Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal in Team USA's dramatic 2-1 overtime win against Canada in the men's gold-medal game, and his brother Quinn Hughes, a defenseman for the Wild, will both appear on "The Tonight Show" on Monday. Quinn Hughes will also make an appearance on "SNL" on Saturday.

  • On February 19, 2026, the U.S. women's hockey team won gold against Canada.
  • On Monday, February 27, 2026, Hilary Knight, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes will appear on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon".
  • On Saturday, February 25, 2026, Quinn Hughes will appear on "Saturday Night Live".

The players

Hilary Knight

A forward and captain for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women's Hockey League, who helped the U.S. women's team win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Jack Hughes

A U.S. Olympian hockey player who scored the game-winning goal in Team USA's dramatic 2-1 overtime win against Canada in the men's gold-medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Quinn Hughes

A U.S. Olympian hockey player and defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, who will appear on both "The Tonight Show" and "Saturday Night Live" this week to celebrate his team's gold-medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

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What’s next

Quinn Hughes will fly back to Minnesota to play the Blues on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET and the Lightning on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

The high-profile late-night TV appearances by the U.S. Olympic hockey stars showcase the growing popularity and mainstream recognition of the sport, especially after their dramatic gold-medal wins against rival Canada. It highlights how Olympians are leveraging their newfound fame to promote their personal brands and the sport of hockey.